FIFA

As usual, most eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo after his controversial penalty against Ghana saw him become the first player to score in five consecutive World Cups. Ronaldo was voted the 'Man of the Match' in that 3-2 win, but a closer look at his performance shows just how much his style of play has changed in recent years, with the 37-year-old now becoming a much more static presence in attack, when a few years ago, his powerful runs from deep, cutting in from the flanks were his main strengths.

On Sunday evening at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar, Alphonso Davies needed only 68 seconds to write his name into history as Canada's first goalscorer at a men's World Cup to give his team the lead. The Croatians fought back through Andrej Kramaric double (36 and 70 minute) besides goals from Marko Livaja (44) and Lovren Majer (94).

The 29-year-old's close range strike gave the Germans the first point of the competition having lost their first match to Japan 2-1. Fullkrug, who is playing his first-ever World Cup, came from the bench to the rescue with a fine turn and finish to level in the 83rd minute, smashing home a loose ball inside the box.

The two-time world champions, who lost their opening match against Saudi Arabia 2-1, will be guaranteed of a place in the last 16 if they beat Poland on Wednesday. "We didn't expect to lose the first match and the days leading up to this one were long," Messi said. "We wanted to have the opportunity to change the situation.

With two successive wins, the first one against Australia (4-1), the French men now lead Group D with six points, leaving Denmark, Australia and Tunisia to fight for the remaining qualifying spot from the group. Australia, which earlier in the day defeated Tunisia 1-0, are on three points while Denmark, which drew their first match against Tunisia, have one point in their kitty from one loss and one draw.

On Saturday, in the last match of the day, Argentina, which lost their first match to Saudi Arabia, scored in the 64th minute through Lionel Messi to register their first win and three points. La Albiceleste struck a second time in the match through a gem of a goal from Endo Fernandez with three minutes left for the normal period of play to end.

Piotr Zielinski gave the Poles the lead in the 39th minute while Robert Lewandowski added the second for his team in the 82nd time. Saudi Arabia, who had rallied from a goal down to pull off a shocking 2-1 win over former champions Argentina, could not repeat the same magic and thus will have to consider the result of the other match taking place on Saturday evening between Argentina and Mexico and accordingly plan for the final match against Mexico.

In the Group D match played at Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday, Duke produced the only goal of the match in the 23rd-minute strike and helped the Socceroos' to collect their first points of the football showpiece event. Duke, who plays his club football for ?Fagiano Okayama in Japan's second tier, converted Craig Goodwin's left-wing cross which sent the Australian supporters into a celebration mood. The Socceroos' had to withstand some late pressure to secure a win and head into their final Group D clash with Denmark with all to play for.

Iran scored twice deep into stoppage time to stay in the World Cup and spoil Gareth Bale's record 110th cap for his country. A long-range effort by Cheshmi in the eight minutes into added time gave Iran the lead while Rezaeian coolly made it 2-0, three minutes from the second goal.

Ronaldo scored from the spot 20 minutes into the second half thus becoming the first man to score in five World Cups. The Ghanians refused to throw in the towel and bounced back with a goal from A. Ayew in the 73rd minute. The joy was short lived as Felix got his name on the scorers' list five minutes later giving Portugal the lead, making it 2-1.